Gravelly red and yellow loamy top soils over clay

Our climate and growing conditions are perfect for so many plants, so here is what to plant in this type of soil.

Ground covers and grasses (up to one metre) and vines 

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Barbed-wire grass

Cymbopogon refractus

soft blue-green, tufted perennial aromatic grass with taller arching seed heads, resembling barbed wire

Blue daisy

Brachyscome microcarpa

pale blue daisy growing in scattered clumps on better soils; flowers spring to autumn

Blue flax lily

Dianella longifolia

small lily of open eucalypt forest; blue flowers; bright blue berries; suit rockery or foreground planting

Kangaroo grass

Themeda triandra

widespread grass of the eucalypt forest; fine foliage; coppery seed heads in summer

Sarsaparilla vine

Hardenbergia violacea

fine scrambling hardy vine; deep purple pea flowers in late winter; will cover lattice-work

Scrambling lily

Geitonoplesium cymosum

grassy-leafed scrambler; shiny black berry with dainty, white, perfumed flowers; fresh shoots edible

Swamp water fern

Blechnum indicum

upright hardy understorey fern of paperbark lowlands; open graceful form; edible starchy root

Yellow summer lily

Tricoryne elatior

dainty, rush-leafed lily; small yellow star flowers in summer; grows in open forest

Low shrubs (one to two metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Crinkle bush

Lomatia
silaifolia

decorative open shrub; intricate foliage; white grevillea-like flowers; moist, well drained soils

Dogwood

Jacksonia scoparia

fine-leafed hardy shrub for sunny position; clusters of yellow pea flowers; porous soils

False coffee bush

Breynia oblongifolia

small shrub with arching branches; small red-black fruit; open, well drained, moist site; attracts butterflies

Pointed leaf hovea

Hovea
acutifolia

fine open shrub; purple pea flowers in late winter; prefers filtered light; deeper soils

Medium shrubs (two to five metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Brisbane laurel

Pittosporum revolutum

open shrub with cream flowers; evening fragrance; yellow fruit open to reveal red seeds; attracts birds

Geebung

Persoonia cornifolia

hardy shrub; upright habit; mid-green foliage; small, yellow fuschia-like flowers; yellow edible fruit

Green kamala

Mallotus claoxyloides

"smell of the bush" shrub for understorey in rainforest garden; male and female plants

Grey myrtle

Backhousia myrtifolia

small spreading understorey tree with small leaves; fragrant foliage and beautiful flowers

Native hibiscus

Hibiscus heterophyllus

slender tall shrub; large white flowers with deep red throat; prickly stems

Prickly-leafed paperbark

Melaleuca
nodosa

tall, fine-leafed shrub; creamy yellow pom-pom brushes; well drained sunny position

Scaly myrtle

Austromyrtus hillii

small rainforest tree with glossy leaves and dainty white flowers; black fruit

White bottlebrush

Callistemon salignus

small bushy tree; new foliage pink; nectar-rich; cream brushes attract wildlife

Small trees (five to 10 metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Black she-oak

Allocasuarina littoralis

medium tree; fine needle foliage; male trees a rusty colour during winter flowering period; butterflies

Foam bark tree

Jagera pseudorhus

handsome tree; dark pinnate leaves; panicles of pink flowers; rusty coloured hairy fruit

Red kamala

Mallotus philippensis

nicely shaped tree if grown in sun; can be pruned to give new reddish growth; velvety red fruit

Sandpaper fig

Ficus fraseri

slender upright medium tree; leaves have sandpaper texture; dark edible fruit

Swamp box

Lophostemon suaveolens

fast growing eucalypt-like tree with graceful branch form; open canopy; frequent flowering periods

Tulipwood

Harpullia pendula

small shade tree; disease free and hardy; bright green pinnate foliage; decorative orange fruit persists

Umbrella cheese tree

Glochidion sumatranum

fast growing tree with large soft leaves; moist, deep soils; edam cheese shaped fruit

Tall trees (over 10 metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Brush box

Lophostemon confertus

large tree with deep green horizontal foliage; bare pink bark in upper branches; favours south slopes

Celerywood

Polyscias
elegans

handsome shade tree; long pinnate leaves, fast growing pioneer in rich, moist soils; draws wildlife

Grey ironbark

Eucalyptus siderophloia

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food, nest and perch sites for varied native wildlife

Pink bloodwood

Corymbia intermedia

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food, nest and perch sites for varied native wildlife

Scribbly gum

Eucalyptus signata

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food, nest and perch sites for varied native wildlife

Spotted gum

Corymbia citriodora

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food, nest and perch sites for varied native wildlife

These plants are more suited to drier, free-draining soils.
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Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.